“Chicago-based eco Capital Management has announced the launch of a new l/s commodity focused offering, the eco Commodity Opportunities Program.”

Eco Capital launches pure commodity play – (CTA Intelligence)

 

Consider the days of bonds having high returns and low volatility are a thing of the past – with the new regime nearly the exact opposite of low returns (if not negative) and higher volatility.

We’ve All Got a bonds Problem – (RCM’s Attain Alternatives Blog)

 

The number of CTA launches in the first half of 2016 have declined by more than 70% compared to the same period last year, Preqin data shows.”

CTA launches decline 70% in first half of 2016 – (CTA Intelligence)

 

“Reducing volatility is important because of its positive effect on compounding and the fact that investors are more likely to stay the course when they don’t have to suffer large swings in performance.”

Understanding the Benefits of Managed Futures  — (361 Capital)

 

“Overall, diversified trend is still the best strategy by return and information ratio on an equal weighted basis.”

Clustering CTA’s – more than trend-following – (Rzepczynski)

 

“We are going to be applying a seasonal discount at Worthing, SD, one of our delivery points, of  $1.50 per hundredweight in October only…and then we are going to upgrade the quality specifications by moving the choice percentage to 60 percent from 55 percent, and then the select percentage down from 45 to 40 percent,”

Cattle Call: CME Group’s David Lehman Explains Changes to Cattle Contract Specs – (JLN)

 

If you can check all these boxes, I see no reason why alternatives can’t be a piece of your portfolio.”

Seeking Alternatives – (The Irrelevant Investor)

 

“The three main U.S. car auctions in 2015 saw vehicles worth a total of between $1 and $1.5 billion sold. While there are hundreds of smaller auctions globally and many cars sold off-market, this is still a long way from the trillions traded daily in stocks and bonds.”

Ferraris and Fine Wines Lure Investors Hit By Rate Ructions – (Wealth Management)

 

It’s not quite fair to compare the return on a $400 stamp or $1,000 bottle of wine with the Trillions invested in the hedge fund and private equity space.

Bloomberg Vomits Alternatives – (RCM’s Attain Alternatives Blog)

 

“The MLP market gets dealt with by the general investor in a broad brush — ‘It’s too complicated, get me out.’ ‘It’s a great yield, get me in,”

Investors Are Cozying Up to MLPs Despite Oil’s Bearish Streak – (Wealth Management)

 

“Said another way, four years of pretty 7% dividends and steady growth in price can be wiped out in a few short months – making this more than just about the yield. You have to worry about how they are going to pay that yield.”

Looking Under the MLP Hood – (RCM’s Attain Alternatives Blog)

 

Olympics:

“In the spirit of the Olympics, we thought what better way to celebrate the world’s greatest athletes than thinking what asset classes best represent each sport.”

Infographic: The Investors Road to Rio – (RCM’s Attain Alternatives Blog)

 

“Enter your details below to find your Rio 2016 body match from our database of more than 10,000 athletes taking part in the Games”

Who is your Olympic body match? – (BBC)

 

“One enterprising fan walked over and was about to scoop it up _ apparently thinking that like foul balls in baseball, he was entitled to a souvenir _ when cries of “No! No!” stopped him in his tracks.”

Brazilians “still learning the game” of golf – (AP)

 

Government, Studies, and Policy:

The Congressional Budget Office was asked in 2015 to estimate the size of the federal contract workforce and essentially threw up its hands.

Big Government Keeps Getting Smaller – (Bloomberg)

 

Researchers will still have to receive approval from federal agencies to conduct medical studies of marijuana, including from the D.E.A. and the Food and Drug Administration.

Obama Administration Set to Remove Barrier to Marijuana Research – (The New York Times)

 

“The research looked at 9th through 12th graders in the U.S. and found LGB students experienced considerably higher rates of physical and sexual violence and bullying compared to their heterosexual peers.”

LGB Teens at 2x-4x Increased Risk for Suicide, Bullying and Violence – (NBC News)

 

The report found major flaws in even the most basic modern policing practices, from arrests to use of force to basic interactions with the community.

The Justice Department’s incredibly damning report on Baltimore police, explained – (VOX)